[the hog]

Imps vs strong but aggressive opponents. v vs nv. Playing behind screens, so no ui problems.

Kxxxx
Axxx
xxx
T

You hold the above collection, pass in first seat and hear this bidding:

P (3C) P (P)
?

Do you re open?

[helium]

I guess i whould depend on my "table feeling"when im at the table and the x-es in the hand,but i guess i whould X, but im not 100% sure about this bid.
whit diffrent vouln i whould x whitout question.
kenneth:)

[luke warm]

i'd x also, mainly cuz my spades are weakish and i have 4 hearts...

[inquiry]

I am an aggressive balancer (or at least I think I am). However, sometimes you just have to let them play the hand. This is one of those times. I pass.

[Free]

Reopen? No, why??

[the hog]

My partner held this. I don't know if I would have had the guts to double - I would certainly have thought about it. Partner's X gave me an easy decision with:

xxxx
QJ9x
Q
AKJx

We picked up 300 for a 6 Imp gain. (-50 at the other table in who knows what).

Interestingly Marston - Burgess in their heyday regarded doubling on hands such as the posted one as automatic. Mind you they play a heck of a lot better than I do.

[mikestar]

A very reasonable double. The rule for bidding directly over a preempt is "put 7 points in your partner's hand and bid what you think you can make." (Some authorites say 8 points. ) In the balancing seat, all your actions should have a minimum a King or so below the corresponding direct bid. So with the actual hand I feel we have a fair play for three of a major opposite a typical 10-11 count with a fit. I wouldn't feel this way about most 7 counts with this shape--the 3 controls definitely favor aggression.

Zarpoint enthusiast will note that the hand counts to 23:

7 HCP + 3 controls + 9 (longest suit + next longest suit) + 4 (longest suit - shortest suit)

which makes the hand almost opening bid strength.

[Antoine Fourrière]

Double seems obvious to me (you have the pattern, the upper suits, and the points are evenly divised until proved otherwise), but I think I would pass if I hadn't passed first.

[luis]

I think the double is automatic. Specially when pd is a non-passed hand, there're a lot of hands with values that can't take an inmediate action over a 3c bid so protecting is mandatory.

[Trpltrbl]

I almost have to X, I am short in their suit, and I do have 3 other suits. Not a strong hand but I do have 9 cards in the majors.

Mike

[mishovnbg]

Spoiler

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Hi Ron!

Spoiler

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To reopen in vul vs not at 3 level you need to have a real chance for game... Have you? Actually not, because you need strong NT hand from partner with well placed values - too optimistic, even for me . Much more probably is to give to opps deserved prise of 800/1100 while fighting for score - not acceptable in my opinion.

Spoiler

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Yes, I already sow both hands... congratualtions, well done, as I said to my opp(star) at last abalucy tourney, who bid 3NT after 1NT(15-17) opening with: xx,xxx,KQxxx,Qxx and made it doubled, I still wonder why not redoubled .

Spoiler

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By the way, difficult question: what is suppose your partner to bid after your take out dbl with: xxx, KQxxx, KJx, Kx, will you expect to play game without double and how many tricks you expect to make?

Spoiler

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By the way, I like to play poker too

Spoiler

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Misho

[Trpltrbl]

mishovnbg, on Mar 22 2004, 05:06 AM, said:

By the way, difficult question: what is suppose your partner to bid after your take out dbl with: xxx, KQxxx, KJx, Kx, will you expect to play game without double and how many tricks you expect to make?

Misho

3♥, pd is a passed hand and he is protecting you, so don't hang him.

Mike

[the hog]

I am inclined to agree Misho, I probably would have passed. One mitigating circumstance here was that the opponents are very aggressive players; they were also behind in the match. For the record, opener held:

x
Kx
Kxxx
Q98xxx

Serves him right. Even more pleasing is that this was an ex partner.